A high cut off dialyzer (septeX) is tested in patients after cardio-thoracic surgery with incidence of "systemic inflammatory response syndrome" (SIRS) and associated increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Hypothesis: The high cut off dialyzer (septeX) can increase the postoperative IL-6/Il-10 ratio.

The Effects of High-cutoff (HCO) Hemofiltration in the Immediate Postoperative Period on Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and Renal Recovery in Cardiac Surgery Patients With a High Risk for Renal Failure. (HICOSIRS)

IL6/IL10 ratio [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline in IL6/IL10 ratio at 48h post cardiac surgery and last day at hospital (expected average of 2 weeks after cardiac surgery) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

To test, if immediate postoperative HCO-CVVH reduces systemic inflammation (determined as the ratio between Il-6 / Il-10) in patients with a high risk for CSA-AKI in comparison with a treatment without early RRT. To calibrate for differences in baseline cytokine levels and with respect to the high variability of cytokines in the postoperative period the area-under-the-curve (AUC) of the postoperative increase in the IL-6/Il-10 ratio until 48h will be used.

Cardiac surgery associated systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) plays an important pathophysiological role in the development of AKI in patients after cardiothoracic surgery.

Previous studies have shown that the elimination of inflammatory mediators can be either achieved by Continuous Venous Venous Hemodialysis(CVVHD) or Continuous Venous Venous Hemofiltration (CVVH) by using a high-cutoff (HCO) membrane with a cut-off 45kD. Data from patients treated with HCO-CVVHD during septic shock show a reduction in systemic cytokines and improved hemodynamics.

No data about the effects of early HCO-CVVH in cardiac surgery patients with a high risk of Cardiac Surgery associated AKI and consequently a high rate of postoperative renal replacement therapy (RRT) are available.

It is of note that patients with Euroscore > 6 are on high risk to develop SIRS associated AKI.

No pharmacological anti-inflammatory approach has convincingly shown to prevent renal dysfunction in these patients.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01579396